New Delhi: After a couple of days of intense training in tough conditions in Gmunden, Austria, the stage is finally set for the pride of Indian football to test their mettle against the European juggernauts on April 2, Wednesday. The “Special 28” – 12 talented girls, 16 charged-up boys – of Indian football, who were picked after a nationwide hunt in search of the top young talents in the country, will play against the Gmunden Football Academy in a pair of matches.
The first fixture will see the Indian Tigresses battle it out against the Gmunden Academy girls in the U-13 age group, while the second match will witness the blockbuster battle between the Indian Tigers and Gmunden Academy boys in the U-15 age category.
Intense Gmunden training prepares young stars
Ahead of the fixtures, India’s young football champs took part in the final training session. The Indian Tigers and Tigresses were fired up and looked ready to take on their Austrian counterparts. The scenes in the locker room were incredible, and the atmosphere was filled with a buzz of adrenaline. With a sense of pride and passion in the air, and the intensity in their voices, the football superstars are ready for their biggest match in their lives.
It has been an emotional journey for the young guns who bid an emotional farewell to their parents and loved ones to travel all the way to Austria to realise their dreams. The Indian gems have benefited greatly from the training sessions provided by the top European coaches.
Out of a total of 50,000 registrations, 10,000 kids were shortlisted and participated in regional trials across the length and breadth of the country, but only 28 made it to the final list selected for the landmark Austria trip.
The “Special 28” recieved a historic send-off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who blessed this initiative at the TV9 ‘What India Thinks Today’ Summit on Friday, March 28. The young champions landed in Austria on March 30 and took part in the first training session a day later.
News9 Indian Tigers and Tigresses: Twenty eight young Indian footballers, selected from 50,000 initial applicants will feature in an U-13 girls’ game and an U-15 boys’ game, marking a significant step for these rising stars. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
